Aston Villa v Norwich City Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Guzan - Lowton Vlaar Clark Bennett - Holman, KEA, Bannan - Ireland - Bent Benteke

subs: Given Lichaj Delph Weimann Gabby Nzogbia Herd

[Simba]

I hope we are 4-0 up at half time and Delia (Lord Haw Haw) Smith gives us a rendition of "Let's be 'avin yer"

Actually if we are 4-0 up I don't mind if Doug ( who invented half time entertainment)  does it. Anything for a laugh at a Villa game as I can't remember the last time I did.

[*shellac*]

Us 1 - 2 Them

Soft midfield with no creativity against midfield of journeymen = team with more balls win.

[mal]

Whatever way you try and rotate our midfield the common denominator is its inferior PL quality.

Unfortunately yes.

It is a fact, unfortunately.

No, it's an opinion. It may well be true. But I think there is genuine quality in Ireland and n'zogbia. The others are ok or unproven and the former two are maddening. One proper ball winning but decent on the ball centre misfielder would make a huge difference.

"But I think there is genuine quality in Ireland and n'zogbia." is a frequently stated but puzzling assertion. Ireland's passing stats are surprisingly good - and suggests reasons as to why we missed him when he was out but he was hardly making us unbeatable when he was in. CNZ? What a waste of money.

[paul_e]

The problem is they've both proven they can perform in the premier league.

Our problem in midfield isn't due to individual players, who are all having an ok season (none have been great but none have looked like a championship quality player who's out of his depth), but rather our ability as a unit.

We need to find a group that works, giving us the defensive stability and providing the attacking threat, for me I'd try:

KEA - Bannan - Ireland
Holman - Weimann
       Benteke

I'd want Ireland staying deeper in midfield than he has been though, he's drifted quite far forward this year without really providing any threat.  By getting him to start deeper (i.e. in a 3 with bannan and KEA) all 3 can be available to drift wide or forward to make numbers.  We need one to stay deep but I don't think it should always be the same guy.

[Percy McCarthy]

Agree about Ireland Paul, he should be deeper. It's easy to get lost playing that role off the striker. As probably our best player, the more we get him into the game the better. With his improved work-rate, I'd even trust him in a two in centre-mid in a 4-4-2. I'd still rather play 3 in there though. But whatever the numbers, Ireland should play where the game and our attackers are in front of him, so he can be involved more.

[eastie]

                  Guzan
 
Lowton.     Baker.    Vlaar.    Bennett

        Ireland.    Kea.        Holman

                  Nzogbia

           Weimann.      Benteke

[Stu]

Villa must win, there can be no other outcome.

2-1 to the Villa. Some bloke for them, Gabby with the equaliser and Benteke to put us in front on about 80 mins, giving us 10 mins of constant Norwich pressure to cope with, because this is the Villa after all.

[Jimbo]

I feel this could go the wrong way, but we might get a freak result against better opposition, away, after the post mortem. 0-1 to them. Meltdown on here.

[Risso]

                  Guzan
 
Lowton.     Baker.    Vlaar.    Bennett

        Ireland.    Kea.        Holman

                  Nzogbia

           Weimann.      Benteke

I'd go with that, but have Bannan in the midfield 3 and Ireland playing the free role behind the strikers.

[tomd2103]

Is Clark fit for Saturday?  After the problems Lambert caused us earlier in the season, it might be worth going with the more physical option of Baker to counteract Holt.

[geeeenius1971]

A must win game just hope it turns out better than the must win game last season against QPR!!

[silhillvilla]

Putting faith in Ireland and NZogbia terrifies me tbh.
Absolutely no substance to those guys

[SoccerHQ]

Our midfield is awful compared to what it was even two years ago, this is the area where we've most declined. Two seasons ago we had Young....Petrov.....Milner.NRC......Downing in there.

I think Benteke will start with....Bent. The reality for Gabby is three scoreless games since his Man. City wonder show so I'd take him out for this. Think N'zogbia will start this aswell as from memory last year he had one of his better games against Norwich as they aren't good when players run at their defence.

Think Holt will bully our defence, more so if it's Lowton in central defence. He did it last year after all and just scored the winner against Arsenal.

[robbo1874]

No real argument to back this up, but I've gone for a villa win. We're due one, lambert will know them inside out so hopefully can set us up well against them. Plus despite the results lately, we've not been doing too much wrong- some of these missed chances have to get converted sooner or later.

We seem to do ok if we go ahead in games, but if the other side scores first we fold. If we can go 1 up I'm convinced we'll win. If we go 2-0 up we could kick on and get a few more. Here's hoping this is the one where our luck changes. I can't even contemplate losing this one.